Electrical conductor containing an ionizable gas and radioactive material to ionize the gas



R. BABIGAN 3,361,866 ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR CONTAINING AN IONIZABLE GASJan. 2, 1968 AND RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL To IONIZE THE GAS Filed April 9,1965 l coNoucroR CONDUCTOR SUPPORT Du G mN Cl US DU Nw 0 C PERFORA TECONDUCTOR 3,361,866 ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR CONTAINING AN IONIZABLE GAS ANDRADIOACTIVE MATE- RIAL TO IONIZE THE GAS Raymond Babigan, 4804 45th St.NW., Washington, D.C. 20016 Filed Apr. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 446,889 Claims.(Cl. 174-28) 'llhis invention relates to an electrical conductor andmore particularly to an electrical conductor assembly for use in thelong distance transmission of electricity.

The desirability of efficiently transmitting electrical energy over longdistances has long been known. Among the main advantages are thatelectrical energy can be generated for example at a coal mine anddistributed without the necessity of transporting the coal. Also sinceit is not uncommon for hydroelectric power sources to be located atgreat distances from large users of electrical energy, an eliicientmethod and structure for transmitting such energy over long distanceswould be of considerable economic value.

One of the limiting factors in long distance transmission of electricityis in t-he conductor structure. If, for example the cross-sectional areaof the conductor could be increased, the long distance transmissioneciency would be enhanced. However, it is not practical or economicallyfeasible to increase the diameter, or in other words the cross-sectionalarea, of a solid metallic wire conductor for the reason that the greatlyincreased weight and increased cost of such a wire, as well as theincreased cost of structure for its support would more than offset itsadvantages.

Attempts have been made heretofore to construct a large diameter,relatively low weight conductor, but such attempts have not met withsuccess.

It is an object of my invention therefore to construct a large diameter,relatively low weight electricity conductor especially suitable for longdistance transmission of electrical energy.

It is a further object of my invention to construct a compositeelectricity conductor in which both metal and ionized gas are utilizedto conduct electricity.

It is a further object of my invention to utilize in association with ametallic conductor, a gaseous electricity conducting medium which isionized by radioactive means.

A further object of my invention is to provide a commercial use forspent, waste radioactive fuel which is now discarded.

lA further object is to construct a suitable supporting structure forthe conductor of my invention.

Other objects and further features of novelty and invention will bepointed out or will be evident to those skilled in the art from areading of the following specilication in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3 to 5 are cross-sectional views similar to FIG. 2, each figureshowing a further embodiment of my invention, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a novel supporting structure forthe conductor of my invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is sho-Wn an electrical conductor as a metallicWire or rod 1 which is encompassed by a metallic housing 3. Preferablythe wire 1 and housing 3 may vbe of copper or aluminum although othermetals may be utilized in accordance with design preferences. Housing 3is supported from the wire 1 by rod or spider elements 5 which are madeof electrically conductive United States Patent O |metal so that thehousing and wire are in electrically conductive relationship.

The inner surface of the housing has associated therewith radioactivematerial 6 either in the form of a coating or in the form of a surfacealloy. The natural and artificial radioactive elements are importantsources of ionizing radiation. I prefer to utilize spent fuel elementsbecause they are an abundant source of ionizing radiation and because ofthe fact that they constitute a low cost source of such radiation. Theouter surface of the housing is covered with a shielding material 4 suchas lead.

The space between the housing and the wire is filled with an ionizablegas. Ordinary air may be used but is subject to the possibility thatundesirable catalytic reactions may result between the nitrogen andoxygen with the production of corrosive nitrogen oxides. Consequently Iprefer to utilize a relatively inert gas such as nitrogen alone.Obviously other inert gases may be utilized.

In operation a source of electrical energy may be connected to the wire1 or housing 3, or to both for transmission to a remote point of use.The gaseous substance within the housing, having been ionized by theradioactive material, will also act to conduct the electric current,thus in effect resulting in a composite conductor having a considerablecross-sectional area without -a corresponding Weight increase as wouldbe the case if the conductor were made of solid metal throughout.

The embodiment of conductor 12 shown in FIG. 3 is comprised of an innermetallic wire 10, a metallic housing 13 covered with shielding material14 and a spiral shaped metallic perforate member 15 in electricallyconducting relationship with parts 10 and 13. The inner surface of thehousing may or may not be surfaced with radioactive material similar tothe surface 6 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Parts 10 and 13 may be copperand/or aluminum.

Perforate member 15 may be in the form of a metallic screen orperforated metallic sheet and is preferably made of aluminum in theinterest of weight considerations. However, it is obvious that othermetals may be utilized. Member 15 is coated or surface alloyed withradioactive material similar to surface 6 of FIG. 1 and is provided withopenings therein to enable the gas within the housing to liow freely.

The purpose of the perforate or screen member 15 is to enable theradioactive material thereon to be relatively close to the gas which isto be ionized. Moreover the metallic member 15 will aid in thetransmission of electric current.

The embodiment of conductor 22 shown in FIG. 4 is similar to that shownin FIG. 3 with the exception of the particular configuration of theperforate member 25. As shown in the iigure member 25 is in the form ofa plurality of spaced reverse folds in electrically conductingrelationship with wire 20 and housing 23. Perforate member 25 has aradioactive surface associated therewith to ionize the adjacent gaseousmaterial. As in the other forms, the housing is covered with leadingshielding material 4.

The conductor 32 shown in FIG. 5 is comprised of wire 30, housing 33,shielding material 34 and spaced, coaxial perforate members 35 havingradioactive material associated therewith. Members 35 may be supportedin any conventional manner, as for example, by spacer blocks 36.

A structural assembly for supporting the large diameter conductor isillustrated in FIG. 6. As shown in this ligure a plurality of uprightpoles 40, suitably spaced apart, carry bracket members 41. A largediameter conductor 42 is encircled by stirrups Aor straps 44 which arespaced along the length of the conductor. A cable, or equivalent memberextends through the stirrups and also through tubular members onbrackets 41.

Having now described and shown several forms of my invention, I wish itto be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specificforms or arrangements described herein, except insofar as suchlimitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electricity conductor comprising a metallic housing, a metallicwire Within and spaced from said housing, metallic means connecting saidWire and housing in electrical conducting relationship, an ionizable gasin the space between said housing and said wire, and radioactive meansassociated with said conductor for ionizing said gas.

Z. An electricity conductor as in claim 1 in which the wire and housingare formed of copper. 3. An electricity conductor as in claim 1 in whichthe wire is formed of copper and the housing is formed of aluminum.

4. Ank electricity conductor as in claim 1 in which the radioactivemeans is on the inner surface of the housing, and shielding means on theouter surface of the housing.

5. An electricity conductor comprising a metallic Wire, a metallichousing surrounding said Wire and sapced therefrom, an ionizahle gas inthe space between said housing and wire, perforate metal means in thespacebetween said Wire and housing, said wire, housing and perforatemetal means being in electrically conducting connected relationship, andradioactive means associated with said conductor for ionizing said gas.

6. A conductor as set forth in claim 5 in which said Wire is copper andsaid housing is aluminum.

7. A conductor as set forth in claim 5 in which said perforate metalmeans is formed of aluminum.

8. A conductor as set forth in claim 5 in which said perforate metalmeans is an aluminum screen.

9. A conductor as set forth in claim 5 in which the gas is an inert gas.

10. A conductor as set forth in claim 5 in which the perforate metalmeans is in the form of a spiral connected to the wire and to thehousing.

11. A conductor as set forth in claim 5 in which the perforate metalmeans is in the form of a reversely folded structure, the folds of whichare spaced from one another.

12. A conductor as set forth in claim 5 in which the perforate metalmeans is in the form of spaced concentric members, coaxial with thewire.

13. An electricity conductor comprising a metallic wire, a metallichousing surrounding said wire and spaced therefrom, metallic rodsconnecting said -wire and housing, an

ionizable gas within said housing, radioactive material within saidhousing for ionizing said gas, and shielding means on the outer surfaceof said housing. i

14. A conductor of electricity comprising a metallic wire, a metallichousing surrounding said wire, and aluminum screen Within said housing,said wire, housing and screen being connected together in electricallyconducting relationship.

15. A conductor as set forth in claim 14 in which the housing is formedof aluminum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,056,085 9/1936 Alles 174-1052,622,208 12/ 1952 Bernstein Z50-83.6 3,206,541 9/ i965 Jachimowicz174n-105 3,233,100 2/1966 Lampart 250--83-6 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,230,927 5/1963 France.

LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Primary Examiner.

H. HUBERFELD, A. T. GRIMLEY, Assistant Examiners.

